I've been watching the NBA Playoffs since the 60s and can never remember a worse year than this season. A combination of many things has deteriorated the game to its current state: Expansion and ESPN Highlights are two we'll quickly examine here that are an ongoing problem and the brutal schedule, which is unique to this season because of the lockout is a third problem we'll look at. Expansion There are just too many teams today. The talent just isn't there to support them. The game at all levels peaked years ago and even though we have more foreign players than ever there just aren't that many good players. Kids don't play ball anymore on the courts. They're too busy playing the game on their video games. The game in the 60s had 8 NBA teams. That means that nearly half the starters in the league today wouldn't even be in the league without expansion. I'm not saying we should only have 8 teams, but 24 would be a good number. Do you really think many of the players and teams today could hang with the players and teams of the 80s? ESPN Highlights The dunk, the fancy pass, the three is what makes the ESPN Highlights and players want to make the highlights. Tough D and team play don't make the highlights. Enough Said! Today's fan has trouble digesting a game on TV and coming up with any meaningful analysis of the game because they have been indoctrinated into the "highlights are what make a good player and team" attitude. Young players (meaning youth league and high school players) see the highlights and think that is what they need to do to become a good player. So "ESPN Highlights" is a cancer that has spread into and ruined the game and will be almost impossible to cure. Brutal Schedule
the NBA Playoffs. The schedule this year of 66 games (devil #s which is fitting) in about 4 months was an absolute killer. Tired bodies get injured more frequently...that's a given and once you get tired you need a long period to rest to return to form and the week or so rest many of the coaches gave their players just prior to the playoffs was not enough. The players suffer, but so do the fans. The play, especially on offense has been very tough to watch this playoff season.
to be staying with us, but the third will not be a factor next season and with the many new outstanding players coming into the league next season it should improve some, but I doubt the level of play, especially at playoff time like we had in the 80s will ever return. I invite your input. Email: Randy@WddNews.com
|
| Bringing the Heat by Randy Novotny |
| Email: Randy@WddNews.com |
| Randy Novotny |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |